Indonesia Highlights Climate Resilient Rimba Excelsa Coffee At Marrakech Festival 2025 For Global Audiences

Marrakech, Morocco – 2025 — Indonesia is strengthening its international coffee engagement by showcasing Rimba Excelsa, a rare and climate-resilient coffee variety, during its participation at the Marrakech Festival 2025. The initiative is led by the Indonesian Coffee Development and Education Foundation (KAPPI), with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Morocco.

Indonesia is one of the world’s major coffee-producing countries, with production largely driven by smallholder farmers across diverse regions. Its equatorial geography allows staggered harvests throughout the year, positioning Indonesia as a relatively stable seasonal supplier in the global coffee market—an increasingly relevant issue for coffee-producing countries worldwide, including in Africa.

“KAPPI is present to reaffirm Indonesia’s commitment to promoting its coffee on the global stage. With the support of the Indonesian Embassy in Morocco, we are introducing the diversity of Indonesian coffee, and Rimba Excelsa is the rare variety we bring forward as a symbol of resilience and sustainability,” said Roby Wibisono, representing KAPPI.

Rimba Excelsa, which represents less than one percent of global coffee production, is derived from Liberica var. dewevrei and is recognized for its resilience to high temperatures, marginal soils, and climate variability. These characteristics are drawing growing interest as coffee producers across Africa, including Southern Africa, face rising climate pressures and shifting growing conditions.

The Rimba Excelsa presented by KAPPI originates from Lampung, Indonesia, where it is cultivated at elevations of 200–400 meters above sea level and processed naturally. The coffee is known for its bold body, pronounced floral aroma, and distinctive jackfruit-like flavor profile.

According to Moelyono Soesilo, Indonesian coffee expert and member of AEKI (Association of Indonesian Coffee Exporters), productivity remains a key challenge across many coffee-producing countries.

“Improving productivity through better farming practices offers significant opportunities without the need for agricultural land expansion. Farmer education, good agricultural practices, and youth engagement are essential to building long-term resilience in the coffee sector,” he explained.

For South Africa, where coffee culture continues to grow alongside a strong specialty coffee and café community, discussions around climate resilience, farmer knowledge, and sustainable sourcing are increasingly relevant to broader conversations about the future of coffee across the continent.

KAPPI’s participation reflects Indonesia’s broader commitment to positioning coffee not only as a traded commodity, but as a platform for knowledge exchange, sustainability, and Global South collaboration. The initiative highlights shared challenges and opportunities faced by coffee-producing countries across Asia and Africa in the context of climate change and sustainable agricultural development.

About KAPPI
KAPPI (Indonesian Coffee Development and Education Foundation) is a non-profit foundation committed to advancing Indonesia’s coffee industry through education, research, farmer empowerment, and the preservation of coffee culture. KAPPI works across Indonesia’s coffee regions to support sustainable productivity, quality improvement, and long-term resilience within smallholder farming communities.